Chippy Design Giveaway

Not too long ago, I reached 200 followers! Thank you everyone! I truly appreciate it. To help me celebrate, my bloggy friend, Lynn of A Little Chippy, offered to give away one of her fabulous candles. She is just getting her Etsy shop set up, so it's still a work in progress, but she has some great items! I LOVE this aqua mason jar candle. Isn't it gorgeous?


There's white, too.

And how awesome is this? It's a candle made from a repurposed wine bottle. Neat, huh?

Now, for the giveaway. One lucky ready will win their choice of candle from Lynn's shop, Chippy Design.

To Enter:

Mandatory:

1. Visit Chippy Designs on Etsy. Come back here & leave me a comment with your favorite item.

Additional Entries:

1. Become a follower of Lynn's blog - A Little Chippy. Come back & leave me a comment telling me you are.

3. Become a follower of my blog, or let me know you already are.

Please leave a seperate comment for each entry. Make sure I have some way to contact you, either through your profile or leave your email address in your comments. Giveaway will remain until 4/25/11. Winner will be chosen via random.org. Good luck!

Cookie Dough Easter Eggs

I always seem to have an issue getting the Easter decorations out. It always ends up being the week before Easter, or I don't even bother. I think it's because of how close it is to Layla's & Morgan's birthdays. So I don't have a lot of decorations. But both this year, and last year, I joined the Eggcellent Swap hosted by Monkeybox. I know have some wonderful Easter creations! For my egg this year I decided to put a spin on the gingerbread ornaments I have made in the past. These are NOT no-bakes. Here is the recipe: You will need:

• 6 Tbsp. shortening


• 1 cup sugar


• 1 cup molasses


• 2 tsp. baking soda


• 2 tsp. groung cloves


• 2 tsp. ginger


• 2 tsp. cinnamon


• 7 cups flour


• 1 1/2 cups water

1. Beat shortening & sugar together in large bowl. Stir in molasses. 2. Sift baking soda, ground cloves, ginger, cinnamon & flour together in a large bowl. Alternately add the dry mixture & water to the shortening mixture. 3. Stir until mixed thoroughly and refrigerate 6-8 hours. 4. Preheat oven to 350°. 5. Cut dough into 3 equal pieces. Knead each piece lightly and use a rolling pin to roll out each piece.

6. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes, and then use a straw to poke holes, if needed. 7. Place cookies on a cookie sheet and bake for about 20 minutes. Turn off oven & allow cookies to cool in the oven. 8. Place cookies on racks to completely harden. Place in a cool, dry place and allow to sit for 2-3 days.

In the past I've used puff paint to decorate these, to give the look of piped royal icing. But this time I used acrylic paints.

They look a little plain like this, so I decided to add some white glitter, to resemble sanding sugar.

I added a piece of yarn to hang them with, but I didn't get a photo of them like that. This recipe CAN be halved. The full amounts make quite a bit of dough. And I have Christmas ornaments I made from this several years ago, and they are still in perfect condition.

Linked to: Easter Egg Hunt at Blue Cricket Design, Spring Has Sprung at Craftaholics Anonymous, Friday Favorites at Inspiring Creations, Catch-As-Catch-Can at My Repurposed Life, Friday Favorites at Simply Sweet Home, Project Party Weekend at Bubbly Nature, Show & Share Day at Just a Girl, Funky Fresh Friday at KoolBeenz, Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now, Watcha Got at Lolly Jane Boutique, Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots & Jello, Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Projects in Progress at Ma Nouvelle Mode, Talent Tuesday at Vintage Wanna Bee, Too Cute Tuesday at Funky Polkadot Giraffe, Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog, Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts, Link Party #50 at Tea Rose Home, What's Up Wednesday at Sew Woodsy, Show & Tell at Blue Cricket Design, Inspired By You Wednesday at Eisy Morgan

Tiered Serving Tray & Some Winners

You know where this is going, right? Simple as pie, but I hadn't made one yet, and I thought this would work good for the BBQ Cups I'm making for Layla's party. I found these melamine plates at Target. The candlestick came from the dollar store. Step 1.




Step 2. And done!

There wasn't a smaller or bigger size of these plates, only these two. I thought about adding a third tier but with one of the matching bowls they had, but I'm not sure.

What do you think?

Oh, and I need to announce the three lucky winners of the Purex Complete Crystals! The lucky ladies are #7 Treighsie, #16 Annie & #10 Heidi! Congrats ladies!!

Linked to:

Art Party Wreath

I enjoyed making the wreath for the rainbow party so much, I knew I wanted to make one for Layla's art party as well. The rainbow wreath would have worked fine, but I wanted something different. And this one was FREE!


I started with coffee filters & a leftover frisbee. I have a bad habit of breaking the pot to my coffee maker on our cast iron sink. And when I go to replace it, they don't have replacement pots OR, the pot is as expensive as the coffee maker. So this last time, I got a 12 cup instead of a 4 cup. Since I had these small filters leftover, I used them.


I folded them in half, and then in half again. Then I used hot glue and attached them somewhat standing up.


Of course, a few inches from the end, I ran out of small filters. I didn't see the point in buying another pack of filters in a size I can't use, so I improvised with my larger filters. Which is why that spot on the top is a little wonky.


When it was finished, I watered down some acrylic paint and Layla & I splattered it on. No pictures of this as it was getting dark outside & kind of messy!

Here's that darn wonky spot again. I was originally going to leave it plain, until that spot happened. Then I thought I could hang it from a wide ribbon to hide it. But then I had another idea.

I added a tray of watercolor paint, some paint chips & a paintbrush.

I think it turned out pretty good! Hopefully I can get the rest of this party together quickly. Less than a week to go!

Linked to: Think Pink Saturdays at Flamingo Toes, Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table & Dreaming, Sundae Scoop at I ♥ Naptime, Made by Little Hands at delicateCONSTRUCTION, Projects in Progress at Ma Nouvelle Mode, Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog, Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife, Too Cute Tuesday at Funky Polkadot Giraffe, Talent Tuesday at Vintage Wanna Bee, Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff, What's Up Wednesday at Sew Woodsy, Idea Sharin Wednesday at Women Who Do It All, Show & Tell at Blue Cricket Design, Inspired By You Wednesday at Eisy Morgan, Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts, Link Party #49 at Tea Rose Home

Frugal Friday #6

Welcome back to Frugal Friday! I do have one shopping trip to share with you this week. I'm also going to share a few freebies that are available. My shopping trip this week is from Publix.



2 gallons of milk (not shown) @ 3.69(!) ea.
4 boxes of Aunt Jemima pancakes BOGO @ 2.39 ea.
1 box of sandwich bags @ 1.59
2 1/2 gallons of Silk soymilk @ 2.50 ea.
2 bottles of Wishbone salad dressing BOGO @ 2.89
1 pack Oscar Mayer bologna @ 2.59
7 bags of Mahatma yellow rice @ .69 ea.
1 bottle of Miracle Whip @ 3.19
1 pack Johnsonville italian sausage @ 3.50
2 boxes of Crest toothpaste BOGO @ 2.93 ea.
2 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter BOGO @ 3.19 ea.
10 packs of Trident gum @ 1.09 ea.
2 Oral B toothbrushes @ 1.50 ea.
10 sticks of Right Guard deoderant @ 3.89 ea.

OOP: $26.41
Saved: $93.92!

Do you want to know what coupons I used? Here you go:

2 - coupons for FREE product from an Aunt Jemima promo on Facebook (expired)
2 - $2/1 printable coupons from Silk. Register here and take the survey - you can print it twice!
1 - $1.50/2 Wishbone printable from Target.com
7 - $.50/1 Mahatma rice (from a previous Sunday insert, not sure on date)
1 - $1/1 Johnsonville italian sausage printable (can print twice!)
1 - $1/1 Crest toothpaste Publix coupon (Stocking Spree booklet - no longer available)
2 - $1/1 Crest toothpaste coupons (prior P&G insert)
2 - $.85/1 ICBINB printables
5 - BOGO Trident gum coupons (prior Sunday insert)
5 - BOGO Trident gum Publix coupons (from their yellow flyer in stores)
1 - $2/2 Oral B toothbrush coupons (prior P&G insert)
1 - $1/1 Oral B toothbrush Publix coupon (Stocking Spree booklet)
5 - BOGO Right Guard deoderant coupons (prior insert)
5 - BOGO Right Guard Publix coupons (from their green flyer in stores)

Now for the Right Guard - the Publix coupon is for free bodywash when you buy deoderant. But my store has been sold out since the sale started. So I asked the manager if they would substitute the deoderant for the bodywash, and they said yes! So it pays to ask.

If you watched Extreme Couponing the other night, that was not real couponing. This is. Don't expect to save what they did on that show. Several of the stores broke their own coupon policies just for the show. So don't get discouraged if you can't walk away with $600 worth of groceries for $6.

• If you haven't yet, you should register with Vocalpoint. You get some great coupons from them & free samples, too.


• Become a fan of John Freida on Facebook & request a free sample of Smooth Start shampoo & conditioner.


• Request a sample of U by Kotex here.

Linked to Friday Finals at Southern Savers.

Purex Complete Crystals Review & Giveaway

I recently was given the opportunity to review the new Complete Crystals fabric softener by Purex. I had seen in at a few local stores & I was curious as to how they would work. I was given a sample of Fresh Spring Waters (blue) and I picked up Lavender Blossom (purple) at the store. I really wanted to try Tropical Splash (yellow) but I coudln't find it. Regardless, both the Lavender Blossom & the Fresh Spring Waters scents smell amazing!

You can smell them before you open them, and after washing, the scent remains in the clothes, which I personally really like. They were very easy to use, not messy at all. And the best thing, they don't take much to work. So your bottle should last quite awhile. What about softness? Trust me, it makes your laundry very soft. I honestly think these crystals work better than liquid softener. Definitely better than dryer sheets.

Another thing I like about Purex Complete Crystals is that they are 92% natural. How many other fabric softeners can say that? Plus, you can add them right at the start of the wash, no need to wait since they won't stain your laundry. AND they work for both top loaders & front loaders!

Now, three (yes, 3!) lucky readers will win a coupon for a FREE bottle of Purex Complete Crystals! If you can't wait to try it, head on over to the Purex Facebook page where you can "like" them and find a coupon for $1.00 off.

To Enter (one comment for each entry, please):

1. Leave me a comment letting me know which scent you'd most like to try.

2. Become a follower of my blog, or let me know that you already are.

Giveaway will remain open until 4/13/11. Good luck!

I received product from Purex to try as part of my review. However, thoughts & opinions are 100% my own.

Linked to Giveaway Directory at Someday Crafts

A Plea For Help

Normally I woudln't ask about something like this, but I could really use your help if you'd be willing (please?). My local newspaper is running a Funniest Feline Contest, and my crazy cat, Poof, has made it into the finals! $200 is on the line here and I could really use it, so I'm begging asking you to please take a moment & vote for Poof? You do have to register but it's really quick, and you don't get unwanted emails. You can vote once per day. So thank you in advance if you are willing to help! Just follow the link in the image below.